Overview

Matt has experience in both commercial litigation and insurance coverage disputes, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He has litigated numerous matters to conclusion, both by dispositive motions and through trial or arbitration.

Commercial Litigation

Currently representing, as plaintiff, an association of independent physicans suing a large hospital system for breach of contract and other claims allegedly totaling tens of millions of dollars.

First-chaired an arbitration resulting in a multimillion-dollar arbitration award to firm client Groupon. Matt has also represented Groupon in numerous other matters involving breach of contract and intellectual property issues.

Represented public and private companies in numerous post-closing disputes. Many of those disputes were favorably resolved prior to or early in litigation. However, Matt recently represented a Fortune 500 company in a post-closing dispute that proceeded to a two-week arbitration hearing before settling.

Successfully argued several dispositive motions in a multimillion dollar loan dispute, eventually resulting in a favorable resolution for Matt’s client.

Successfully defended the trustee of a $35-million trust against breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claims alleged by one beneficiary of the trust. In that case, Matt obtained dismissal of the plaintiff’s most valuable claims, after which the case was favorably resolved through alternative dispute resolution.

Pro bono counsel to the Chicago nonprofit Housing Choice Partners in two cases alleging racial discrimination in the lease of downtown office space. After Matt’s client defeated multiple motions for summary judgment by the defendants, the cases were resolved.

Insurance Coverage

Currently representing a major insurer in coverage litigation featuring several issues of first impression relating to the “personal and advertising injury” coverage and the known loss doctrine.

Represented Liberty Mutual in multi-venue litigation involving insurance coverage for liability relating to consumption of the “Four Loko” alcoholic beverage. After Liberty Mutual successfully defended an appeal to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals by Four Loko’s manufacturers and moved to enjoin further litigation, the case was resolved.

Represented several major insurers in cases involving coverage for mass torts, as well as related bankruptcy issues and contribution claims.

Provided coverage advice on numerous issues, including additional insured issues; commercial general liability, directors and officers, and errors and omissions coverage; and specialty lines coverage for data breach liability. In addition to the cases above, Matt has litigated many coverage cases relating to those issues.

Matt also has represented policyholders, helping manage their coverage needs and reporting obligations. He currently represents a prominent Chicago-area nonprofit in litigation against the nonprofit’s insurance broker seeking $25 million in damages caused by the broker’s alleged failure to procure an adequate directors and officers liability policy; as well as several other large Chicago companies in their dealings with insurers.

E-Discovery And Governmental Investigations

Matt also has substantial experience conducting and managing all facets of discovery, including electronic data collection, preservation, and production; taking and defending depositions; and successfully arguing discovery motions. On numerous occasions, he has represented companies in response to third-party and governmental investigations and subpoenas, including by the Department of Justice, the SEC and the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

In law school, Matt served as a member of the University of Chicago Law Review, and won the Joseph Henry Beale Prize for legal writing and the Morrison & Foerster Award for best first-year moot court brief. During law school, he worked as a Peggy Browning Fellow at the Chicago Newspaper Guild, representing union members before the NLRB and in negotiations and grievance hearings. Before law school, Matt worked as a journalist and a teacher.

Publications

Does the First Amendment Protect Testimony by Public Employees?, 77 U. Chi. L. Rev. 1473 (2010).